Dccoabcr IS, 180S. 3 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTDRE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. 



507 



WOKK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN (lARDEN. 



Wheel manure npon vacaut pruuuii \vlien tlie weather is 

 Irosty, so tlmt the wiilks may not be broken up, and let all 

 spare ground be trenclied-np as soon as possible, in order to 

 expose it to the action of the weather. For land that has 

 been cropped with vegetables a dressing of fresh loam would 

 in many cases be preferable to manure, and where this is 

 wanted and can be obtained, it should be procured in order 

 that advantage may be taken of frosty days to wheel it ou to 

 the ground. Where fresh soil cannot be obtained, charred 

 vegetable refuse, such as prunings of shrubberies, edgings of 

 walks, and many things which turn up in the course of the 

 season may be cheaply made to form an excellent substi- 

 tute. UroccoU, the weather, up to the present time, ha\'ing 

 l)oen so favourable to its growth, the means before recommended 

 should be resorted to in order to check it, and to prevent the 

 frost having direct influence on the heart of the plant. Cah- 

 iHtflf, earth it up, if not done, the weather nov.- being favourable 

 for that purpose. Carrots, if young ones are wanted early, seed 

 should now be sown on a slight hotbed. Ciiciinibrrs, dung 

 should be prepared for beds for early crops ; it should be well 

 shaken to pieces and mixed, as on this being properly per- 

 formed depends the length of time whicli the bed retains its 

 heat. Diearf Kidnfij Bfans, another crop may now bo sown, if 

 a constant succession is required. Enilirc, take advantage of 

 the present tine weather to tie-up and house a quantity. Peas 

 and iicans, if severe frost should be likely to set in cover those 

 that are up with partially-decayed leaves ; cinder ashes should 

 never be used for this purpose. Rmlixhix, every fine day draw 

 off the lights entirely, this will give them strength to form 

 roots. Sea-I;ah% continue to cover a small portion at a time. 

 When the first portion has been cut, and the pots taken ofi, 

 cover the roots vrith a little litter to prevent their being injured 

 iy frost. It is the jiractice in some places to lay the gravel on 

 the walks in a ridge, after all the manure is wheeled on, this 

 may now be done, as it is not often there is much doing in the 

 kitchen garden at this season. 



FRUIT G.IRDEN. 



Prune all kinds of fruit bushes, clear off the prunings, and 

 have the ground manured ready for digging ; also take advan- 

 tage of leisure time to thoroughly examine the fruit-stores, and 

 remove any fruits that are found to be decaying. Of course 

 the frost must be excluded from the fruit-room, but on no 

 account use fire heat, unless the temperature cannot other- 

 wise be kept above fi'eezing. Admit air ou mild days, especially 

 after keeping the room shut for some time ; but as the fruit 

 will now give off but little moisture very little air will suffice 

 to keep the atmosphere dry, and no more than may be neces- 

 sary to do this should be given. Orchard trees of large size 

 are much neglected abont many places, the head being allowed 

 to become so thick of wood that fruit cannot be expected, save 

 from the points of the outside shoots, and, unless accident- 

 ally thinned considerably below an average crop, the fruit is 

 small and indifferent in quahty. See that standard trees 

 which have been recently moved or root-pruned are firmly 

 secured against wind, and also let any root-pruning or trans- 

 planting remaining to be done this season be executed before 

 li'ost sets in. Push forward pruning, nailing, tying espalier 

 trees, and similar tedious operations, as fast as the weather 

 and circumstances \vill pennit. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



If not already done, let all borders be neatly trimmed up for 

 the winter ; in doing this, places intended for Dahlias, Holly- 

 hocks, ifec, next summer should be prepared by deep digging 

 and working in plenty of good rotten manure ; there is gene- 

 rally as much time to spare now for that kind of work as at 

 planting-time. See that the coarse-growing plants which may 

 be encroaching upon their weaker neighbours are reduced, so 

 as to occupy theii' proper places. At this season of the year 

 the amateur's attention must be directed principally to the 

 effectual protection of his plants, though it must be borne in 

 mind that we are very far from being the advocates of the 

 nursing system which many florists adopt, the effect of which 

 is seen in Carnations with yellow and spotted leaves ; Auriculas 

 and Polyanthuses, which at their proper blooming season will 

 not bear a truss of flowers ; Tulips with the foliage not only 

 cankered, but very far in advance of the season, <S:c. The great 

 secret is to keep the plants secure in bad weather, but at all 

 other periods to let them be freely exposed to the action of the 

 atmosphere, so that they may grow up stiff and strong, and be 



enabled to withstand severe weather of an ordinary character. 

 Nothing is more prejudicial to florists' flowers than cutting 

 winds, they will bear frost with impunity when anaccompaniod 

 with the rude wintry blast. When cutting winds prevail shelter 

 is indispensable ; and those florists who have a bed of Poly- 

 anthuses under a north-east hedge of Hornbeam (this we prefer, 

 as it retains its foliage throughout a great part of the winter), 

 will be able to bear testimony to its efficacy. Net and cover 

 Tulip-beds with bast mats, and if possi'ole do not let the sur- 

 facc be frozen. Turn compoBt-heapn, and expose them to the 

 action of frost, &c., and use every endeavour- to collect refuse 

 vegetable matter for future use. 



GREESnoCSE AND CONSERVATOEY. 



Although we have many beautiful plants which cither bloom 

 naturally at this season or require but little artificial manage- 

 ment to cause them to do so, a scarcity of flowers is, perhaps, 

 more commonly experienced at this than at any other period 

 of the year ; and where the display is, to a large extent, depen- 

 dant npon what we term forced plants, considerable fore- 

 thought and attention will be necessary for some time, in 

 order to maintain a regular supply, for plants are not so easily 

 excited into bloom in the dead of winter as iu the spring. 

 In selecting plants for forcing, every possible care should be 

 exercised to choose such as are not likely to prove failures, for 

 of things which are suitable for forcing many will bloom but 

 poorly, if they are subjected to a high temperature without 

 having been allowed a sufficient time to recruit their energies 

 after making their growth. Next to Camellias, Azaleas are, 

 perhaps, the most showy plants that can be had in bloom at 

 this season, and, where "there is a good stock of these to draw 

 upon, some of the most forward plants of the commoner 

 varieties should be placed in heat at once, moistening them 

 overhead two or three times a-day ; but imless plants can be 

 selected which have made their growth and set their buds early 

 in the season, they can hardly be expected to flower so finely as 

 under more natural circumstances in spring, and, unless the 

 buds are plump, there will be some danger of the plants start- 

 ing into growth instead of flowering. Dutch bulbs should be 

 largely used for present forcing, and where hardy shrubs are 

 forced for the decoration of the conservatoiy, these should 

 he brought into flower as soon as circumstances admit ; for 

 although many of these are very showy when well bloomed, 

 and acceptable enough when had iu flower in winter, they 

 hardly seem in place under glass in spring, after the weather 

 becomes fine, and when more choice plants in bloom should 

 be plentiful. Do not forget to introduce into gentle heat a 

 good batch of Pioses, choosing the most promising plants of 

 Teas, Bourbons, and Hybrid Perpetuals, which are the best 

 kinds for winter flowering. Damp or insects soon do irrepar- 

 able damage among softwooded plants at this season, and 

 these must be very carefully attended to if they are to be 

 carried over the winter iu first rate condition. Pelargoniums 

 should be kept rather cool and di-y, giving whatever water may 

 be necessary on the mornings of fine days, so that the superflu- 

 ous moistvu-e maybe dispelled before evening. Keep the shoots 

 thin, rubbing off such as can be spared ; and if green fly is 

 perceived upon any of the plants apply tobacco smoke at once. 

 Herbaceous Calceolarias requii-e very similar treatment to the 

 above, except that they are very subject to the attacks of thrips 

 1 unless afforded a moist atmosphere ; and they must be nar- 

 rowly watched for this enemy, and smoked lightly on two or 

 three successive evenings if this pest makes its appearance, 

 keeping the atmosphere moist, and giving air on every favour- 

 able opportunity to prevent the foUage flagging. Cinerarias 

 for late blooming must also be kept cool and airy, and should 

 not be allowed to suffer for want of pot-room ; but these should 

 not be trusted in cold pits after this, for they are exceedingly 

 impatient of frost. Forward plants of these intended for flow- 

 ering early should be encouraged with a gentle heat, keeping 

 them near the glass, and admitting air at every favourable 

 opportunity. If not already done, train climbers, cutting back 

 freely such plants as Passion-Flowers, and reducing the dimen- 

 sions of all as far as can consistently be done, so as to admit 

 as much light as possible. Remove decaying leaves daUy, and 

 re-arrange the plants in bloom occasionally. — W. Keaxe. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



Thick mist and fog, with a high and rising barometer, gave 

 signs of dry weather coming, terminating in a frosty morning and 

 a bright sun on Wednesday, which will do much good in giving 



